Detroit Lions vs atLanta faLcons JOHNSON'S Mega-PURSUIT 2012 ...

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But we’ll find a way to bounce back.”
Schwartz was quick to note that the onus for the 38 points scored
by the Cardinals could not be placed solely on the defense after
they were frequently put in bad spots by turnovers.
Schwartz on the play of the defense: “In this game, I don’t
necessarily see our defense being the culprit, for lack of a better
word. You know, 17 percent on third downs. It’s hard when
you’re starting drives on your own 3-yard line and 1-yard line
and stuff like that.”
The Lions defense held Arizona under 200 yards of net offense,
gave up just 12 first downs and only allowed the Cardinals to convert
two of 12 third downs.
PROTecT TO PROdUce
Although Stafford took blame for the loss to Arizona, the two
sacks and eight quarterback hits he endured at the hands of the
stout Cardinals defensive line were major contributing factors in
Detroit’s defeat. The O-line also allowed seven tackles for loss
and the ground game was unable to secure a consistent push with
84 yards on 22 carries – an average of 3.8 yards per carry.
G Rob Sims on the offensive line’s performance: “I’m not
going to sugarcoat it or soften the blow. It is what it is. We got
sucker punched. It was a good punch. If there was something
I could shed light on for why it’s happened, whether it’s we’re
not practicing hard enough or whatever, I just don’t know what
to say. It’s devastating.”
IT caN’T Be a ONe-MaN SHOw
Stafford’s receiving cast has had to adapt as several regulars
have suffered season-ending injuries including WRs Ryan Broyles,
Nate Burleson and Titus Young. This week another favorite
target, TE Brandon Pettigrew, was unavailable with an ankle injury.
With the attention Calvin Johnson attracts, Schwartz identified
the urgency for other receivers to make plays as being critical.
Schwartz on not having TE Brandon Pettigrew in the game:
“Well, we missed playmakers in general. They doubled Calvin
on just about every play. They used punt coverage to try
to handle him and the fact that he still had 121 yards says a
lot about Calvin, says a lot about Scott Linehan’s ability to
still be able to get him the ball. But we severely lacked other
playmakers on the field. We didn’t have very many other guys
to step up and make those plays. That’s something that we’re
going to have to have because everybody’s going to double
Calvin. Early in the season we were facing defenses that were
more prevent-type defenses where they were just trying to
prevent a big play. They had respect for a lot of other players.
This, they took the approach of trying to say if Calvin can’t
make the play then we’ll challenge all the rest of the guys.
You know, it’s the equivalent of a box and one in basketball.”
Scheffler came out of the game with three receptions for 36 yards
and knew that the rest of the receiving corps, including himself,
did not make crucial plays.
Scheffler on missed opportunities in the fourth quarter:
“Yeah, we just didn’t make the plays to get back in it. Our defense
fought hard the whole game and we didn’t give them
good field position. They kept us in it.”
Scheffler on whether this is the most frustrated he’s been
after a loss this year: “Yeah, I mean, we put a lot of work
into this. You have people that want to make comments, rip
on us, for a number of things and I guess that’s warranted. At
the same time, we put a lot of work into this, it’s our life, and
we’re devastated.”
rUsH to score, cont...
Lions Leaders, Rushing Touchdowns By Quarterbacks
Rk Player Year G Att Yds Avg Lg TD
1 Greg Landry 1972 14 81 524 6.5 38 9
2 Dutch Clark 1934 12 123 763 6.2 - 8
3t Dutch Clark 1936 12 123 628 5.1 - 7
3t Eric Hipple 1981 16 41 168 4.1 18 7
5 Rodney Peete 1990 11 47 363 7.7 37 6
6t Dutch Clark 1937 11 96 468 5.1 - 5
6t Bobby Layne 1956 12 46 169 3.7 20 5
6t Jim Ninowski 1960 11 32 81 2.5 14 5
6t Jim Ninowski 1961 13 33 238 7.2 40t 5
10t Dutch Clark 1935 12 120 427 3.6 - 4
10t Bob Gagliano 1989 11 41 192 4.7 19 4
10t Bobby Layne 1950 12 56 250 4.5 30 4
10t Scott Mitchell 1995 16 36 104 2.9 18 4
10t Scott Mitchell 1996 14 37 83 2.2 9 4
10t Rodney Peete 1989 8 33 148 4.5 14t 4
10t Matthew Stafford 2012 13 31 115 3.7 11 4
2012 NFL Leaders, Rushing Touchdowns
Rk Player Team G TD
1 Arian Foster Hou 14 14
2t Adrian Peterson Min 14 11
2t Trent Richardson Cle 14 11
4t Marshawn Lynch Sea 14 10
4t Doug Martin TB 14 10
4t Stevan Ridley NE 14 10
7t Alfred Morris Was 14 9
7t Ray Rice Bal 14 9
7t Michael Turner Atl 14 9
10t Andre Brown NYG 10 8
10t Mikel Leshoure Det 12 8
foUrtH QUarter ProDUction
In the final quarter of games this season, the Lions offense has been
productive, especially in the passing game. Overall, the Lions have
scored 134 points in the fourth quarter, the third-most most in the
NFL. Detroit leads in fourth quarter total offense (1,907) and passing
yards (1,521). The team is also tied for first in passing touchdowns
(10).
2012 NFL Leaders, Fourth Quarter Scoring
Rk Team TD PAT FG 2pt Saf Pts
1 New England 16 15 12 0 0 147
2 Dallas 16 13 8 2 0 137
3 Detroit 16 15 7 1 0 134
4 Denver 14 12 10 1 1 130
2012 NFL Leaders, Fourth Quarter Total Touchdowns
Rk Team TD PAT FG 2pt Saf Pts
1 New England 16 15 12 0 0 147
2 Dallas 16 13 8 2 0 137
3 Detroit 16 15 7 1 0 134
4 Denver 14 12 10 1 1 130
2012 NFL Leaders, Fourth Quarter Total Offense
Rk Team Tot Rush Pass
1 Detroit 1907 386 1521
2 Washington 1515 607 908
3 Tampa Bay 1507 428 1079
4 Oakland 1497 297 1200
2012 NFL Leaders, Fourth Quarter Passing Yards
Rk Team Att Cmp Pct Yds TD Int Rtg
1 Detroit 226 133 58.8 1521 10 2 92.0
2 Dallas 166 114 68.7 1236 10 3 104.2
3 Oakland 179 111 62.0 1200 8 5 86.5
4 Tampa Bay 141 80 56.7 1079 6 2 90.4
2012 NFL Leaders, Fourth Quarter Passing Touchdowns
Rk Team Att Cmp Pct Yds TD Int Rtg
1t Detroit 226 133 58.8 1521 10 2 92.0
1t Dallas 166 114 68.7 1236 10 3 104.2
3t St. Louis 151 94 62.3 1045 9 4 92.5
3t Chicago 108 70 64.8 843 9 2 111.3
3t Denver 119 72 60.5 811 9 0 107.4
3t Green Bay 103 64 62.1 811 9 2 109.4
3t Cincinnati 112 71 63.4 784 9 4 99.0